I, along with about 100 other lucky individuals, sat enraptured for two hours listening to him speak about his new book and his old books and what it means to be a writer. I gladly waited another three hours in line just to have him sign my copy of American Gods- three hours I spent rehearsing what it was I would say to him when I finally, after twenty years of fandom so intense it is almost embarrassing, had the chance. Here’s how it went:

NEIL: [reading the post-it with my name on it stuck to my book] “So you are H.E. Ellis, then?”

ME: “Yes.”

[Neil begins to sign book. Silence ensues]

NEIL: “It is wonderful to see people using initials again.”

ME: “Yes.”

[Neil hands me my book]

NEIL: “There you are.”

ME: “Thank you.”

[I turn and walk away]

I am sure there was drool involved, not to mention I’d been sweating inside a church for five hours and probably smelled like Texas roadkill.

Even if he were offended, I am sure he would never say. Neil Gaiman is without a doubt the most soft-spoken and humble celebrity I have ever encountered. This man makes himself available to those who come out to see him (those who don’t become catatonic at the sight of him anyway) and never behaves like the diva he has earned the right to be. I harbor no delusions that my writing will ever receive the acclaim his has, but I will tell you with certainty that I will do my best to, “Make good art,” simply because I was blessed with the opportunity to receive his advice.

Return tomorrow for a blog post about what I did the NEXT day. Until then, MAKE GOOD ART.

Ok, I’ll be the one to ask the question everyone is thinking or maybe just me – what were you rehearsing for three hours as you stood in line? (I completely understand being nearly mute in the presence of a literary master.)

I had this idea that I would walk up to him with two books; my AMERICAN GODS book which I would have him sign specifically to me, and a copy of his new book, THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE for him to sign for someone else. In order to expedite the signing process, the organizers of the event handed out post-it notes to write down your name to then place inside the book. That way, all Neil had to do was read your note and then sign the book in order to keep the line moving. My idea was to write, “FOR NEIL GAIMAN,” on the note I placed inside his new book.

I imagined him opening the book, reading his own name, and looking puzzled. I pictured him signing the book just as I had written in the note, and handing it back to me, still confused. At that moment I would slowly hand the book back to him and say, “Here. This is for you.” I don’t think anyone has ever given him an autographed copy of his own book before. I was convinced he would remember me because of this idea.

Yeah, I chickened out. That, and I didn’t want to part with a signed copy of a Neil Gaiman book- even if it was going to Neil himself.

How could I not love an author with that last name? It is amazing to find a writer who writes spectacularly in every genre he approaches. What a great treat it must of been to have contact with him. Congratulations on getting to satisfy your hero worship.

Thanks! My celebrity trifecta of worship consists of Literary hero Neil Gaiman, Stage and film hero Tim Curry, and Musical hero Freddie Mercury. Sadly, I’ll never get to meet Freddie, but I did meet Neil. Once I meet Tim I’ll be all set.

Hmm…what is it with me and wild-haired Brits, I wonder?

July 22, 2013 at 11:11 am

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